Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - reviews, pictures, sizing, etc...

[Flyswatter]



Its normal. Stop worrying about your shoes and start enjoying them.

Flyswatter, I would return them. If it bothers you now, just return them and avoid wearing them out and regretting it. For $345 you deserve to be completely satisfied.

This is unfortunately not uncommon in AE shoes. I don't know what they do, but it happens a lot. Hopefully a replacement pair is of better quality.

Thanks for the comments. Two opposing opinions... lol. On the one hand, I do tend to get unnecessarily anal over small things, but then again like gsgleason said, for $345 (actually I paid slightly less for that with the "Soles for Souls" discount), I should be completely satisfied. I should be able to make it to an AE store within the next couple weeks, so maybe I'll take them there and try to find a pair that doesn't have this problem.

Any other thoughts?

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Interesting...as a follower of AE for the last 2-3 years, this was the first across the board price hike Ive ever noticed...if it is regularly, it certainly isnt often. Which I can appreciate.

Admittedly, it is hard to find good records of past pricing on shoes. That said, here is an article from The New York Times published in 2011: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/fashion/21SHOES.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0, which says that the shoes cost $325.00. They were $335.00 last year, and now they are $345.00.

 

[gsgleason]

Its normal. Stop worrying about your shoes and start enjoying them.

Flyswatter, I would return them. If it bothers you now, just return them and avoid wearing them out and regretting it. For $345 you deserve to be completely satisfied.

This is unfortunately not uncommon in AE shoes. I don't know what they do, but it happens a lot. Hopefully a replacement pair is of better quality.

Thanks for the comments. Two opposing opinions... lol. On the one hand, I do tend to get unnecessarily anal over small things, but then again like gsgleason said, for $345 (actually I paid slightly less for that with the "Soles for Souls" discount), I should be completely satisfied. I should be able to make it to an AE store within the next couple weeks, so maybe I'll take them there and try to find a pair that doesn't have this problem.

Any other thoughts?

If you can go to a store, that's all the better. Call them and tell them what's going on and verify they have some of your size in stock, then go try them and exchange if they're good.

 

[Flyswatter]



If you can go to a store, that's all the better. Call them and tell them what's going on and verify they have some of your size in stock, then go try them and exchange if they're good.

Yeah, at this point I think that's what I'll do. It really is unfortunate that this gaping problem is fairly common with AE. I'll be interested to see if my Fifth Ave seconds that are on the way have the same issue. Fingers crossed, they won't.

While I'm thinking about it, does the AE shoebank accept returns on seconds, or is it an "all sales are final" kind of thing?

 

[cdmcallister]



Mr. McAllister, I think you should get yourself a pair... in every color!

Mr. Sizzle, Of course... That's the master plan, good sir!

 

[Winston S.]



Afternoon gents, Picked up a pair of shell Randolphs off the bay for a steal in pretty good shape, but a little more worn than I got the impression from in the listing. Not too disappointed, as I mentioned they were a steal. Just wondering how many wears/miles I have left in these soles before I need a recraft/resole. I was hoping to make it through summer - I only plan to wear the loafers once a week but I do log some decent mileage on NYC streets (approx 1 mile a day I would say). I've attached some pics, let me know what you guys think in regards to the life left in these shoes before they need a recraft:

Spoiler

If they are still pretty stiff, then you should be good to go. I think they might be too worn for flush metal toe taps, but you could still do rubber ones.

Hi Guys, My factory seconds McGraws in Burgundy Cordovan finally arrived. However, the left shoe is significantly darker than the right. What should I use to darken both to the same shade? What do you think about first using Saphir Renomat followed by Saphir Cordovan Wax polish? Also, does anyone know where I can get Saphir Renomat other than from thehangarproject? It is back-ordered there.

Spoiler

You can probably leave the darker shoe in the sun to fade it.

I walk probably that much per day (sometimes more) and am nowhere near a recraft in any of my shoes. I am about a year in on my oldest pair. I have had the heels replaced on 2 pairs by a local cobbler ($25 a pair). These were the full rubber heel. Your combination heel might be a little more expensive. I also have topys on some, which greatly extends sole life. I have had those replaced once in 2 pairs ($35 per pair). You can get metal toe taps installed, which will protect the front of the sole. I haven't done a full resole yet. I could probably get it done locally much cheaper than an AE recraft. I wouldn't bother with the process unless you felt the shoe would benefit from being re-stretched over the last.

That sounds slightly expensive for rubber heels. I think they should be more in the $20 range for rubber. I don't recall what I paid for JR dovetail combo heels but it was in the $30 - $40 range.

 

[balmoralsoccer]

Thanks for the comments. Two opposing opinions... lol. On the one hand, I do tend to get unnecessarily anal over small things, but then again like gsgleason said, for $345 (actually I paid slightly less for that with the "Soles for Souls" discount), I should be completely satisfied. I should be able to make it to an AE store within the next couple weeks, so maybe I'll take them there and try to find a pair that doesn't have this problem.

Any other thoughts?

return them. bowing is not normal, and asymmetric bowing may feel funny on your feet but will certainly bug the heck out of you every time you look at the shoes. bowing has been covered extensively in this thread, and again, it is NOT normal.

 

[Flyswatter]



return them. bowing is not normal, and asymmetric bowing may feel funny on your feet but will certainly bug the heck out of you every time you look at the shoes. bowing has been covered extensively in this thread, and again, it is NOT normal.

Thanks for the affirmation. I'll be exchanging this pair for sure.

 

[JermynStreet]

Here's a pair of wholecuts I got off ebay and had recrafted about one year ago. Love em.

Nice looking shoes. What model is this? Really nice toe punch.

 

[frogwash]

There seems to be two factions here as far as the wishers go. Those that desire a new cordovan offering and those that yearn for the return of a one-piece.

wouldn't a shell wholecut make everyone happy? I know that I'd like that.

 

[Variatio]

wouldn't a shell wholecut make everyone happy? I know that I'd like that.

Well, at least not me. A wholecut would seem too formal for having it in cordovan with its silky matt look. I am aware that there are people out there giving cordovan shoes a glossy shine, but IMO that ruins this unique look of the cordovan leather. Just my 2ct.

 

[AmericanGent]

Black formal wholecut calf would pique my interest.

 

[Olifter]



Hi Guys, My factory seconds McGraws in Burgundy Cordovan finally arrived. However, the left shoe is significantly darker than the right. What should I use to darken both to the same shade? What do you think about first using Saphir Renomat followed by Saphir Cordovan Wax polish? Also, does anyone know where I can get Saphir Renomat other than from thehangarproject? It is back-ordered there.

I used Neet's Foot Oil to darken cordovan once. It was a brown shoe through.

 

[msulinski]

Regarding wholecuts, did the discontinued AE models have a back seam? I have seen pictures of wholecuts both and without a back seam. It seems like it would be much more difficult to construct the shoe without.

 

[random-adam]



wouldn't a shell wholecut make everyone happy? I know that I'd like that. 

My understanding is that while shell wholecuts are occasionally done by some brands, shell cordovan tends not to have quite the requisite stretchiness needed to form over a last as a single piece of material... and is more likely to tear in the process. I'd rather see them continue to not offer it if the alternative means a number of ruined shells.

Black formal wholecut calf would pique my interest.

Agreed! No toe punches or broguing, and +100 bonus points if they include silk laces as well as normal ones on the black pairs.